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STATE    CAPITOL     BUILDING,     DEN V E R, CO  LOR ADO.  * 


RES.  SENATOR  N.P.HILL  fourte 


J.W.BAILEY,    RES.  COR.  GRANT  &  CAPITOL  AVES. 


RES. J.T 


PANORAMA    VIEW   OF    D 


3RANT   &    COLFAX     AVES 


ER       FROM      CAPITOL     HILL 


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HOTEL  METRO  POLE.  Broadway. 


ST.  J  AMES   HOTEL,  CURTIS  ST 


CLAYTON    BLOCK.  15  TH  ST. 


ST.  JOHN'S  CATHEDRAL    episcopal 


UNITARIAN    CHURCH 


ST. PAULS  M   E. CHURCH,  evan's  chapel. 


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LOTHROP     BLOCK.  COR. LAWRENCE  AND   18    ST. 


UNIVERSITY    OF   DENVER 


RES.  J.  A  FLEMING  Broadway 


hs,  ^k 


RES    C.B.KOUNTZE  grant  av« 


RES  DAVID  H  MOFFAT  LINCOLN  AVE 


BROADWAY  DRIVE 


NEW  BARTH  BLOCK  cor. sixteenth  and  stout  st 


TABOR  OPERA   HOUSE 


MC  MANN    BLOCK 


CITY     HALL. 


ST     OFFICE 


KEENER    BLOCK 


HENRY    LEE    BLOCK 


EVANS   BLOCK,  larimer  st. 


CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE 

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WINDSOR  HOTEL 


VIEW  ON  SIXTEENTH  STREET. 


DENVER,  COLORADO 


POPULATION,  82,000. 


Published  and  Copyrighted,  1887,  by  Ward  Bbos.,  Dealers  in  View  Albums  of  all  American  Cities, 

Columbus,  Ohio. 


THE  capital  and  principal  city  of  Colorado,  the  seat  of  Arapahoe  County,  lies  at  an  altitude  of  5,197 
near  the  western  border  of  the  plains,  and  within  twelve  miles  of  the  mountains,  the  front 
range  of  which  may  be  seen  for  a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles. 
Where,  in  1858,  there  were  only  a  few  log  cabins,  tents  and  wagons  to  shelter  about  a  hundred  people, 

are  now  many  thousands  ol  tine  buildings,  many  of  which  have  oosl  from  -  <M,000. 

Where  then  not  a  shade  tree  existed,  are  now  over  500,000  In  the  yards  ami  bordering  the  sidewalks, 
nourished  by  streams  of  fine  water,  which  are  distributed  through  ditches  and  gutters  running  parallel 

with  the  walks. 

l»en  traight,  and  everywhere  well  shaded  with   lines  "f  tine  OOttOOWOOd  and 

maple  trees,  and  the  keeping  of  a  turf  or  garden  after  it!  a.,  is  merely  a  matter  of  waterii 

garden  la  kept  moisl  mainly  by  flooding  from  the  Irrigating  ditch  in  the  street  ox  alley,  but  the  turf  of  the 
lawn  and  the  shrubbery  owe  their  verdure  to  sprinkling  with  the  ham]  hi 


Denverites  boast  greatly  of  their  climate.  That  the  air  is  pure  and  invigorating,  is  to  be  expected,  at 
a  point  on  a  plateau  a  mile  above  sea  level,  with  a  range  of  snow-covered  mountains  in  sight.  From  the 
beginning  to  the  end  of  warm  weather  it  rarely  rains,  except  occasional  thunder  storms  in  July  and 
August.  September  witnesses  a  few  storms,  succeeded  by  cool,  charming  weather.  The  coldest  season 
comes  after  New  Year's  day,  and  lasts  rarely  until  April.  Then  come  the  May  storms  and  floods  from  the 
mountains,  followed  by  a  delightful  summer. 

Though  summer  heat  occasionally  reaches  a  hundred  at  mid-day,  yet  it  rarely  feels  uncomfortable  in 
the  shade  (there  being  a  total  absence  of  that  "  sticky  feeling"  so  frequently  found  in  the  East),  and  with 
sunset  comes  coolness,  and  the  nights  allow  refreshing  sleep. 

In  winter  the  temperature  is  quite  even,  though  sometimes  the  mercury  sinks  to  twenty  degrees  below 
zero,  but  one  does  not  feel  this  severity  as  much  as  he  would  a  far  less  degree  of  cold  in  the  damp,  raw 
climate  of  the  East.     Snow  is  frequent,  but  rarely  plentiful  enough  for  sleighing. 

One  grand  feature  of  the  climate  here  is  its  sunshine.  It  is  the  privilege  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  city 
and  State  to  see  the  sun  more  days  in  the  year,  and  tor  more  hours  each  day,  than  falls  to  the  lot  of.  those 
living  in  other  portions  of  this  country.  To  the  invalid  this  element  of  sunshine  cannot  be  overrated  in 
importance,  for  it  can  be  taken  somewhat  as  a  guage  of  bis  ability  to  lead  an  out  of  door  life. 

Consumptives,  where  the  disease  has  just  made  its  appearance,  do  well  here,  and  almost  invariably  go 
on  to  a  complete  recovery  ;  while  those  far  advanced  are  injured  rather  than  benefitted,  and  are  in  fact 
hastened  to  their  graves. 

Asthmatics  find  relief  in  this  climate,  and  are  able  to  live  here  without  inconvenience  and  anguish  to 
themselves,  but,  however,  a  return  to  the  old  abodes  is  apt  to  bring  on  fresh  attacks. 

The  sanitary  condition  of  Denver  is  excellent,  being  situated  on  the  edge  of  the  plains,  which,  starting 
from  the  foot-hills,  some  fourteen  miles  away,  slope  gradually  towards  the  east.  The  Platte. river,  dashing 
out  of  the  mountains,  flows  through  the  city,  and  serves,  for  the  most  part,  in  keeping  up  the  shade  trees 
and  allaying  the  dust.  Artesian  wells  everywhere  throughout  the  city  supply  the  purest  of  water.  Some 
of  the  deeper  wells  have  certain  mineral  ingredients  which  give  valuable  medicinal  properties  to  the  water. 

The  industries  of  Denver  are  three-fold,  viz.,  mining,  stock-raising  and  agriculture.  The  first  of  these 
is  most  important ;  about  75,000  lodes  have  been  discovered  in  Colorado,  and  numberless  placers.  Only  a 
small  portion  of  these,  of  course,  were  worked  remuneratively,  but  the  total  production,  from  date  of  dis- 
covery in  1859  to  December  31st,  1886,  was  $265,584,526.60,  or  an  average  of  over  nine  million  dollars  a  year. 
The  output  for  1859  was  only  $500,000,  while  that  of  1886>was  $23,717,340,  of  which  $4,447,077  was  gold, 
$14,083,190  silver,  $5,143,566  lead,  and  $43,507  copper. 


Gold  milling ia  now  more  actively  prosecuted  than  for  many  years,  and  the  outlook  for  a  heavier  gold 
product  in  future  years  is  one  of  the  hrightest  features  of  the  mining  industry  of  Colorado. 

Of  silver  mines,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  it  is  to  her  inexhaustable  deposits  of  that  predotU  metal  that 
Colorado  owes  her  supremacy  among  the  Rocky  Mountain  Hi 

Coal  mining  has  advanced  in  ('(dorado  with  prodigious  strides,  and  compare  favorably  with  the  rifting 
Of  the  Other  industries  of  the  State.     All  varieties  of  coal  are  found  in  the  State,  along  railway  lines 
centering  in  the  city.    The  total  output  for  the  year  1886  was  1,436,211  tons. 

nsive  discoveries  are  being  made  yearly  in  the  iron  mines  of  the  State  ;   the  mountains  are  full  of 
iron  ore,  and  the  western  counties  are  especially  prolific  of  iron  deposits. 

The  second  great  source  of  revenue  to  Denver  is  the  cattle  and  sheep  of  the  State.  The  worthless  looking 
buffalo  gra&S,  growing  in  little  tufts,  so  scattered  that  the  dust  shows  itself  everywhere  Let  ween,  has  proved 
olorado's  most  prolific  avenues  of  wealth.    The  herds  now  reported  in  the  state  are  estimated  at 
1,600,000  head.    The  wool  clip  of  the  state  for  1886  was  estimated  at  a  little  less  than  8,000,000  pounds. 

The  third  large  Item  incident  to  its  prosperity  is  agriculture.  Its  success  In  Colorado  la  due  to  the  fact 
that  the  farmers  on  the  plains  put  water  on  their  crops  at  pleasure,  by  means  of  canals,  into  which  the  wa- 
ter is  turned  from  its  natural  bed  at  high  points  near  the  mountains.  Farming  is,  therefore,  routined  to 
the  valleys  of  the  streams  and  the  uplands  contiguous  to  them,  while  the  intermediate  country  lying 
between  the  rivers  is  good  only  for  grazing,  owing  to  the  lack  of  water. 

The  progress  of  irrigation  in  Colorado  within  the  last  five  years  has  been  very  rapid,  large  corporations 
have  constructed  irrigating  canals,  looking  for  their  remuneration  in  the  sale  of  water.  The  soil  of  Color- 
ado, when  thus  watered,  Is  exceedingly  fertile,  and  the  product  per  acre  in  certain  crops  is  very  large. 

Wheat  sometimes  yields  as  high  as  forty  bushels  per  sere,  and  is  of  exceptionally  line  quality.  Pota- 
toes aro  very  -m-i  -essfuiiy  grown,    Vegetables  grow  to  an  enormous  si/c,  and  are  of  a  superior  quality. 

Small  fruits  are  very  BUCCeSSfully  grown,  hut  as  yet  fruit  raising  is  in  its  infancy. 

One  of  the  most  profitable  crops  thai  can  he  grown  in  Colorado  is  alfalfa.  It  Is  almost  eqaal  to  corn  la 
fattening  qualities,  and  cattle  can  be  ready  for  market  in  the  spring  by  feeding  them  on  alfalfa  during  the 
winter. 

From  three  to  four  crops  can  hecui  •  me  ground,  the  aggregate  yield  being  from 

four  to  six.  tons  per 

The  manufacturing  interests  oi  Denver  arc  still  in  their  infamy.     As  In  all  Qi  ire  the 

3 


last  to  be  developed.  Therefore  nearly  fifteen  years  passed  after  the  first  settlement  in  Denver  before  man- 
ufacturing, other  than  jobbing  and  general  repairing,  received  much  attention.  The  pioneer  manufacturer 
was  the  miller,  with  his  small  plant  to  grind  Colorado  wheat  into  flour;  then  a  harness  shop,  a  wagon  shop, 
a  planing  mill,  a  foundry  and  machine  shop.  In  1874  was  built  a  tannery,  a  year  later  a  collar  and  whip 
factory,  a  broom  factory,  a  cracker  bakery,  a  brewery,  &c. 

It  has  been  estimated  that  the  combined  output  of  Denver  factories  for  the  year  1875  would  not  exceed 
$500,000.  Statistics  for  the  year  1886  show  the  value  of  manufactured  product  to  be  upwards  of  $24,000,000. 
a  phenominal  increase  in  the  short  period  of  eleven  years. 

The  largest  manufacturers  here  are,  of  course,  the  smelters,  among  which  the  Boston  &  Colorado  Smelt 
ing  Company's  works  at  Argo  are  the  largest,  and  merit  a  short  description  here  : 

This  company  was  organized  in  1867  by  Prof.  N.  P.  Hill,  who  still  continues  to  be  the  general  manager, 
The  first  furnace  was  erected  in  Black  Hawk,  Gilpin  county,  in  1867,  at  B  time  when  the  mining  industry 
in  Colorado  was  almost  abandoned  for  the  want  of  suitable  facilities  for  treating  the  refractory  ores.  All  the 
methods  for  working  these  ores,  which  had  been  tried  hitherto,  had  proved  to  bo  failures.  The  erection  and 
successful  operation  of  these  works  gave  a  great  impetus  to  the  business  of  mining,  which  has  steadily  in-  . 
creased  to  the  present  time,  and  also  led  to  the  building  of  other  metallurgical  establishments  in  different 
parts  of  the  State.  The  works  at  Black  Hawk  were  abandoned  in  1878,  and  a  new  establishment  was  erected 
at  Argo,  two  miles  from  Denver. 

There  are  now  employed  in  these  works  forty-one  smelting  and  calcining  furnaces,  and  the  buildings, 
which  cover  four  acres  of  ground,  present  a  substantial  appearance,  being  constructed  mainly  of  iron  and 
stone. 

An  important  feature  of  these  works  is  the  refining  department.  The  process  by  which  the  gold,  silver 
and  copper  are  separated  and  purified,  is  the  most  interesting  one  that  can  be  witnessed  anywhere.  The 
silver  is  sent  from  the  works  in  a  state  of  absolute  purity.  The  gold  is  reduced  to  the  fineness  of  gold  coin, 
and  the  copper  is  put  in  a  condition  to  make  alloys,  such  as  brass,  yellow  metal,  etc. 

Another  institution  that  takes  first  rank  among  its  kind  may  be  mentioned  The  Tabor  Investment  Com-  _ 
pany,  with  the  offices  in  the  Tabor  Grand  Opera  House  building.  It  was  organized  in  January,  1885.  by 
Hon.  H.  A.  W.  Tabor,  Capt.  T.  L.  Wiswall,  Peter  McCourt,  and  Prof.  L.  Seaman.  It  has  branch  offices  and 
agents  in  all  the  principal  money  centers  of  the  world.  They  purchase  and  sell  mines,  cattle  ranches,  land 
grants,  and  all  extensive  property  interests,  seeking  capital  on  a  large  scale.  No  property  is  too  large  to 
handle,  and  many  of  their  deals  amount  to  millions  of  dollars.    They  handle  nothing  but  what  is  first-class 


ami  will  hoar  the  closest  Inspection.  They  can,  owing  to  their  high  standing  and  known  Integrity,  procure 
mines  from  owners  on  bond  and  otherwise,  where  other  parties  would  meet  with  refusal.    They  hare  the 

confidence  of  leading  capitalists,  so  that  they  can  And*  market  where  others  cannot. 

The  company  guarantees  its  offerings,  and  never  makes  a  sale  where  dividends  on  good  management 
does  doI  result,    its  President,  ex-Governor  ami  Senator  Tabor,  made  an  immense  fortune  in  Leadvift 

i  made  i>y  any  man.    He  is  correctly  known  as  the  greatesl  mining  judge  and  Operator  in  Colorado, 

and  his  opinion  is  sought  on  all  occasions  in  mining  atl'airs.     Mine  owners  seeking  capital,   and  capitalists 

Lng  property,  can  not  do  better  than  entrust  their  business  in  the  hands  of  this  reliable  and  mighty 

company. 

No  city  in  the  I'nion  offers  greater  Inducement  bO  manufacturers  to  locate,  than  Denver.  Many  impor- 
tant branches  are  represented.  To-day  may  be  found  good  openings  for  paper  mills,  stove  foundries,  tan- 
neries, glue  factories,  shoe  factories,  wagon,  carriage,  implement  and  tool  works.  Almost  within  the  limits 
of  the  city  are  found  sand,  soda  and  other  necessary  materials  in  ureal  abundance  and  of  the  besl  quality  for 
the  manufacture  of  glass.  In  the  mountains  hard  by,  are  found  the  best  oi  iron  or.'  with  abundance  of  coal 
and  wood  awaiting  the  much-needed  blast  furnace,  which  would  at  once  have  a  large  patron 

Denver  is  built,  not  only  with  the  capital  of  her  own  citizens,  but  constructed  of  materials  close  at 
band.  Very  substantia]  hrick,  kilned  in  the  suburbs,  an;  the  favorite  materials.  A  pinkish  trachite,  ring- 
ing under  a  blow  with  a  metallic  sound,  is  largely  used  in  trimmings.  Sandstone,  marble  and  limestone  are 
abundant  enough  for  all  needs.  Citizens  of  Denver  point  with  pride  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  King 
Block,  Union  Depot  and  Windsor  Hotel  as  examples  of  what  has  been  done  and  what  can  he  done  with  the 
building  stone  of  Colorado. 

Coarse  lumber  is  supplied  by  the  high  ]  .  hut  all  the  hard  wood  and  tine  lumber  la  brought 

from  the  Bast,  The  fuel  was  formerly  wholly  lignite  coal,  but  the  extension  oi  the  railway  to  Canon  City, 
El  lioro  and  the  (iunnison,   has  made  the  harder  variety  accessible  and  cheap. 

Denver  Is  justly  proud  oi  her  school  buildings,  constructed  and  managed  upon  the  most  improved  plans; 

and  the  superiority  Of  he;-  school  system  over  that  of  any  other  city  in   the  West,  ll  largely  due  to  tl 

that  the  administration  of  educational  affairs  has  been  carefully  held  out  of  politics,  and  the  boards  of  direo- 

kors  are  Invariably  Chosen  from  a  class  known    to  he  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  cau>e,  and   Willing  to  faith- 

fully  discharge  the  duties  entrusted  to  them.    The  Public  Schools  number  about  twenty-one,  with  a  total 

valuation  of  over  in  addiUon  to  the  Public  -  \er  has  a  01 

which  rank  well  with  their  classes  in  other  cities  ;   among  the  latter  may  he  mentioned  ttv  iver- 

nd  Wolfe  Hall. 


In  proportion  to  population,  Denver  is  perhaps  as  well  supplied  with  churches  as  any  city  in  the 
Union.  Some  of  the  church  edifices  are  large  and  costly  and  imposing  in  architectural  appearance. 
During  1883  seventeen  churches  were  erected  and  there  are  now  (1887)  about  sixty-two,  approximately 
valued  at  about  81,000,000. 

By  the  rapid  multiplication  of  iron  thoroughfares,  Denver  has  become  the  center  of  thirteen  distinct 
lines  of  railway.  The  first  road,  160  miles  northward  to  Cheyenne,  was  completed  in  June,  1870.  Since 
then  railway  building  has  been  almost  continuous,  until  now  Denver  is  connected  by  four  standard-gauge 
lines  with  the  East,  and  three  (two  standard  and  one  narrow-gauge)  with  the  Pacific  Coast  as  well  as  with 
all  the  prominent  towns  on  the  plains  and  in  the  mountains  of  her  own  state.  Denver  is  the  headquarters 
of  all  the  roads  in  the  state  and  many  of  the  Eastern  trunk  lines  have  their  representatives  here. 

In  every  respect  the  situation  in  Real  Estate  is  an  improvement  upon  what  it  was  a  year  ago ;  sales  are 
more  numerous,  the  demand  is  larger,  and  business  is  more  extensive.  During  the  year  1885  real  estate 
sales  amounted  to  over  §11,000,000.  Rents  are  now  on  a  par  with  other  live  and  growing  cities.  It  is  now 
possible  for  manufacturing  operatives  to  live  here,  which  fact  is  giving  great  impetus  to  small  manufactur- 
ing, and  in  turn  is  creating  a  new  demand  for  low-cost  dwellings. 

The  fashion  n(ow  is  for  every  man  to  own  his  own  home,  however  humble,  and  Denver  is  fast  rivaling 
Philadelphia  as  a  city  of  homes.  Each  succeeding  year  makes  a  stride  forward  in  the  character  and  value 
of  Denver  buildings,  and  the  city  has  now  fronts  aDd  residences  which  will  compare  favorably  with  those  of 
any  city  in  the  Union.  Among  the  most  prominent  may  be  mentioned  the  Union  Depot,  built  of  large  stone, 
is  503  feet  in  length  and  65  feet  in  width,  and  the  center  surmounted  by  a  tower  108  feet  high.  The  cost  was 
about  $450 ,000. 

The  Tabor  Grand  Opera  House,  a  five-story  structure  of  stone  and  pressed  brick,  200  feet  long  and  125 
feet  wide,  and  cost  about  §700,000,  is  said  to  be  the  most  elegant  and  beautiful  theatre  in  the  United  States. 

The  County  Court  House  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $300,000. 

The  City  Hall,  an  imposing  edifice  of  stone,  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  Cherry  Creek,  cost  $200,000. 
The  Windsor  Hotel,  corner  18th  and  Larimer,  $250,000.  The  foundations  have  been  laid  for  the  United 
States  Custom  House  and  Post-Office  building,  which  will  be  a  handsome  structure,  and  cost  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  1,000,600.  The  Colorado  State  Capitol  will  be  295  feet  long,  192  feet  deep  at  the  centre  of  the 
building,  and  326  feet  high,  surmounted  by  a  statue  of  Colorado.        ^ 

Tastes  and  needs  so  widely  differ  that  almost  any  spot  in  the  numerous  parks,  valleys  and  canons  of  the 
State  may  be  truly  termed  somebody's  favorite  resort.     At  the  head  of  fashionable  haunts  stands  Manitou 


Springs,  a  beautifully  located  village  at  the  fool  of  Pike's  Peak,  six  milee  wesl  of  Colorado  Sprinj 
oonnected  sritb  Denver  by  means  ol  the  i>.  A  R.  <;.  U'y.    Idaho  Springs,  on  the  Colorado  Central  narrow- 
gauge  division,  La  reached  by  a  ride  through  the  famous  Clear  Creek  Canon,    it  Is  thirty-eight  mil 
Denver.    Estes  Park,  eighty-live  miles  northwest  of  Denver,  via  Union  Pacific  to  Longmont,  thence  by 
^ht  hours  ride,  is  pronounosd  t he  most  beautiful  of  Rocky  Mountain  Parks,    it  lies  at  the  very  base 
of  Long's  Peak,  is  about  ten  miles  square,  and  8,000  feet  above  sea  level.    Middle  Park  lies  In  Q 
heart  of  the  Rockies,  one  hundred  miles  west  of  Denver,  al  an  altitude  of  it  Is  ninety  by  one 

hundred  miles  in  extent. 

Denver  society  Is  cosmopolitan.     Five  hundred  people  a  day,  it  Is  said,  enter  Colorado,  and  nine-tenths 
of  this  multitude  pass  through  Denver. 

Nmv-a-days,  "  the  tour"  of  the  United  states  is  Incomplete  If  this  mountain  city  Is  omitted.    Tims  the 

of  her  hotels  hear  many  foreign  autographs  Of  world-wide  reputation.     Surprise  is  often  expressed 

by  the  critical  among  these  visitors  at  the  totally  unexpected  degree  of  Intelligence  and  appreciation  of  the 
lined  methods  of  thought   and   handiwork   that  greet   them   here.     And,   withal,   there  is  a   most 
charming  freedom  of  acquaintance  and  Intercourse,  free  from  all  chill  and  exelusiveness,  or  regard  for 
*  Who  was  your  grandfather?"    Set  this  good  fellowship  by  no  means  d«  -  algarity,  or  permits 

itself  to  bo  abused.    After  all,  it  is  only  New  York,  New  England  and  Ohio  transplanted  and  considerably 

enlivened  and  truly  deserves  its  title  to  being  "  The  Queen  City  of  the  W( 


*  *5fc  T  *>~  T  **  ;  **  T  #&  T  ** ' 


£&  t  #fc T*  #$?  •  * 


